Caught Between Shifters

by Juniper Hart

  The man’s face dropped, and his eyes darkened as though he was not pleased for the reminder. “That’s why you’re in danger now,” he explained. With a sigh, he explained, “If you step out of that door, I can’t protect you.”

  “Didn’t you say the sun being up was a good thing?” she asked, remembering how he’d closed the shutters.

  She wondered what would’ve happened to him if he had been caught in the sunlight. Of course, she knew what happened in the stories she heard. From the way he was acting, Lucy assumed there was truth to the folklore.

  “Stephen has ways of getting things done, even when the sun is up.” the man ran his fingers through his hair, and Lucy was forced to bite the inside of her lip as she imagined doing the same thing. “You are much safer here, with me.”

  “And what about when the sun goes down?” she asked. As soon as she’d asked the question, she wasn’t sure wanted to know the answer.

  “As soon as the sun goes down, we run.”

  “Run? Run to where? I have a life here,” Lucy shook her head and took a step back, pressing the palm of her hand to her forehead as she felt the beginnings of a headache setting in, along with the throbbing that continued in the back of her skull. “I don’t even know you. All I know is that you spend your evenings at the bar where I work, but you never speak to me, other than to order a drink. Who are you?”

  “My name is Erik,” he told her. “And forgive me for presuming, but the fact you work in a dive bar tells me you don’t have much of a life here.”

  Lucy felt anger begin to burn inside of her. Being judged irritated her. It didn’t matter that the man doing the judging was drop dead gorgeous.

  “You have no right to presume anything about me,” she spoke as she tried her best to hold on to her anger. “You know nothing of consequence about me.”

  “I know that your parents are dead. I know you don’t have many friends. I have watched several men from the bar try to follow you home, but what you don’t know is that I stopped them, too. I see that you are alone, and that happiness eludes you as you struggle to pay your bills and survive.”

  “But…you’ve been watching me this whole time?”

  “I originally came to the bar to find someone to feed on, but why do you think I kept coming back? It definitely wasn’t for the ambiance.”

  “Why didn’t you ever talk to me?”

  “I am a vampire. What’s the point of getting to know me? I’m dangerous, and you’re mortal. It would never work out. I just thought I’d help you along the way until you could get your life together,” stated Erik, matter-of-factly. “But after last night, all of that changed. I know that most people would have bolted when they saw what you witnessed in the alleyway, but you didn’t. That tells me that you have been through a lot in the short time you’ve been on this earth. And that makes me want you even more.”

  Chapter Twelve

  Erik

  The anger in her eyes was refreshing. It was so different from the fear he was used to. Most humans would be cowering in terror, but Lucy stared at him, as if ready to fight.

  "I didn't mean to upset you," Erik raised his hands in surrender as he felt the hunger start in his stomach. It wasn't the normal hunger he felt, not the need for blood. It was the need for something else, something he hadn't craved in so long that he couldn't remember whether he'd ever really craved it at all.

  "None of this makes sense. And, it seems as if the other vampire would have no interest in me if you would have just let me live my life. I just need to get out of here,” Lucy told him, her jaw set with stubbornness and determination.

  Her emotions pulled on his heart strings, and part of him wanted to do as she asked. It was the knowledge that she wasn't safe out there on her own that made him stay planted in front of her.

  "You'd be wise to get some rest," he explained as he turned and placed the key in the door. "We will be traveling all night."

  With that, he turned the key to lock the door and then placed it in the pocket of his jacket.

  "So now you’re detaining me? Or should I call it kidnapping?" Lucy snapped, and when he turned to look at her, she was glaring back at him. "I've told you, I am not going anywhere with you. Hand over the key, and let me leave." She held out her hand as though she expected him to hand it over. That made him laugh.

  Erik was growing bored of her argument. He needed to stop her in her tracks and make her realize just how much trouble she was in. He needed to scare her.

  In an instant, he charged at her, gripped her by her robe and bared his fangs. "Humans don't make demands," he commanded. He was well aware of how close his face was to hers as he glared into her beautiful green eyes. Still, she showed no fear.

  "I thought you said you weren't going to hurt me," she said. He loosened his grip slightly.

  "If I must hurt you to keep you alive, then I will," he replied. "I will not allow Stephen to get his hands on you."

  "The only way you are keeping me from leaving is by killing me," Lucy's voice was stern and willful, as though she knew she had him beat.

  Her stubbornness awakened his needs that lay dormant for too long. His passion surged to the surface, and he couldn't help himself. His face lowered down to hers and their lips connected. It was all fierce fiery lust. Then, searing pain lanced through Erik's lip. She'd bitten him. The taste of his own blood brought his fangs forth as he pulled his face back from hers.

  When he looked down into her eyes, he saw the determination, the passion, and the mixed feelings swimming in her mind. Holding her gaze, he backed her up against the wall. Erik didn't resist as she pulled him down to her again. This time she didn't bite him, though he felt the need to bite her. He refrained as her tongue brushed his lips and he opened them to her. His own tongue joined hers in its dance, and he kissed her back. Her lips tasted like sugar, mixing with the taste of his blood.

  Lucy's hands came down to his chest as she firmly pressed her palms against his pecs. She didn’t push him away, instead her fingers curled into his t-shirt and pulled him closer to her. His body responded by closing the gap between them as his hands trailed down to her firm breasts. They were free beneath the flimsy material of her robe, and her nipples hardened into the palms of his hands as he stroked gently. She groaned into his mouth, and the sound set a fire throughout every nerve in his body.

  It had been so long since he'd kissed another being that he felt clumsy in the exchange, but she didn't seem to notice as she reached up and slid her hands under the shoulders of his jacket. They pushed until it slid off his arms and landed onto the hardwood floor.

  Realizing what was happening, Erik flew backwards so hard that the wall behind him shook as he hit it. Plaster dust rained down around him as his fangs pricked his bottom lip. He stared at the woman who was now leaning against the wall looking disappointed, hurt even.

  "We must stop," he said simply, remembering the last time he'd allowed himself to go there. It had ended in a bloody mess of stained satin sheets.

  “Why?” she asked, looking confused.

  He noticed the red blood smeared over her lips. There was a primal look in her eye, just like his own when he felt the need to conquer. He stepped forward and cupped her face again.

  He wanted her; more than that, he needed her. The burning desire inside him was growing to an inferno as he kissed her again, and she relaxed against the wall. Reaching down, he gripped hold of her wrists and pulled her hands high above her head, holding her there as his lips possessed hers. She wriggled against him as though she couldn’t quite get close enough.

  When he pulled her robe off, he found soft lace panties beneath, and the animal inside him howled with need. His fangs pressed against his bottom lip, desperate to sink into her soft flesh, but he would not let them. He could not bring himself to hurt her.

  Cupping her firm buttocks, he pulled her up into his arms. She squealed in delight as he zipped over to the bed, instantly throwing her down onto the delicate satin sh
eets. She lay there in nothing but her panties, her pale skin gleaming in comparison to the black sheets he’d ordered the housekeepers to use. She was a vision of beauty, and the fresh, sweet scent of her skin sang to him as he pulled off his shirt.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Lucy

  Erik was a man like no other. His upper body was ripped beyond belief, and Lucy could almost imagine that he was a god with his taught muscles, thick glossy hair, and piercing blue eyes. The low, artificial light reflected off his two gleaming white fangs. She could still taste his blood, even as he stood at the foot of the bed and gazed down at her. His eyes travelled over her body from head to toe, and she quivered at his ravenous look.

  Still, she wasn’t afraid. She felt oddly safe, oddly beautiful beneath the eyes of such a majestic creature. She watched, mesmerized, as he reached for the button of his jeans and popped it open. Her heart skipped a beat as he pushed them down, and his enormous, throbbing erection sprung into view. He was more than ready for her, yet now she was not so sure that she was ready for him.

  All doubt faded as he came down on top of her. His body melded against hers, and she felt herself being pressed down into the mattress. He held himself up on his elbows and knees as though he thought he might squash her if he didn’t. As he ran his fingers along her hair line, smoothing away a rebel strand that came down over her face, he gazed into her eyes and said, “I promise I’ll be gentle.”

  Lucy breathed a sigh of relief as he slipped his hand between their bodies and brought it up between her thighs to cup the soft mound that quivered there. Erik rubbed her through the lace. “You are wet for me already,” he whispered in her ear as her desire for him grew. There was no turning back now.

  He hooked his finger into her panties and stripped her of them. She watched as they fluttered to the ground. Her attention was pulled back to Erik as she felt his finger slip deep inside her. She groaned with pleasure as he began to work her body expertly.

  Her back arched as she pushed herself down on his hand. He kissed her again, and his tongue stroked over her lips until she parted them. She tasted him as he pulled his finger from her clit, replacing it with his hardened cock. She gasped as he entered her and began to groan as he picked up a steady rhythm.

  Her hands came up to his back, her fingernails digging into his flesh until he growled in both pain and pleasure. His face came up from hers, and her gaze was drawn to his fangs. She quickly inhaled when she saw the hunger in his eyes and felt a felt a pang of fear. But instead of letting the fear take hold, she embraced his desires. She turned her head to the side, tilting it upward to expose the soft flesh of her neck.

  “Bite me,” she told him.

  He froze.

  Lucy looked up at and saw the hesitation on his face. “Do it,” she encouraged.

  He couldn’t refuse. Erik began to move again, grinding inside her with such vigor that she screamed aloud. His mouth came down to her neck, and for a few brief seconds, all she felt was searing pain. His fangs pierced her skin, stinging like nothing she’d ever experienced before. Then pain dissolved, with pleasure taking its place. Her entire body quivered as she climaxed with him, pleasure undulating through her core.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Erik

  Sated, Erik fell back against the bed and pulled Lucy into his arms. She sighed in a lusty haze as she placed her cheek against his chest and closed her eyes. Erik closed his eyes and enjoyed the feel of her warm body pressed against his. The soft beating of her heart was like music to his ears. For the first time in more than a century, he’d managed to stop himself from killing during a feed—something he hadn’t been able to do since the death of his first love.

  The realization of it allowed him to relax, to close his eyes and sleep for the first time in years. The woman beside him slept soundly, all nightmares of her previous sleep gone.

  It wasn’t until he woke from the blood-fueled sleep that he realized his mistake. He sat upright, and Lucy stirred beside him, stretching out like a feline who’d been dowsing in the sun.

  “What’s wrong?” she asked, as though she sensed the tension in his body. He stopped himself from reaching out for the nearest thing and slamming it against the wall. How could he have been so stupid?

  “The sun has almost gone down!” he spoke, as he threw himself off the bed and grabbed his jeans from where he’d left them. When he glanced at Lucy, he could see the fear in her eyes. “I’ll get you some clothes, and then we have to leave.”

  “Where on earth are you going to find clothes?” she asked. Her arguments stopped, as though she had resigned herself to doing whatever he deemed necessary.

  “There’s a woman just down the hall who looks about your size,” he told her as he pulled on his shirt and slipped his feet into his shoes. “I’ll be back shortly.”

  He zipped out of the door before she had a chance to argue with him, and within seconds, he stood in front of the next door. Knocking, he waited, bouncing impatiently on the balls of his feet as he waited for the woman to open the door.

  As soon as she did so, he began to work his glamour with no time to waste, “I need to borrow some of your clothes.” He told her.

  She smiled warmly as she nodded. “Of course.” She grinned to him, “Please wait here.” And with that she turned and headed back into her room. The slowness of the human made him angry, but he forced himself to stand patiently.

  When she returned, she handed him a pair of jeans, a rose-colored blouse, a set of matching undergarments, and a pair of black flat shoes, he thanked her and raced back to the hotel room, listening all the time for any danger that might be near.

  He found Lucy still perched on the bed holding the sheets to her chest to keep her modesty covered. He frowned as he saw the bloody marks on her neck. Placing the clothes on the end of the bed, he slipped onto it beside her and brought forth his fangs.

  “You aren’t hungry again, are you?” she frowned at him as she saw the fangs. Erik shook his head and sighed.

  “Allow me to heal you,” he said as he lifted his index finger and pricked the end with his fang. Lucy watched in amazement as he rubbed the wound over each of the fang marks on her neck. He watched the wounds heal, and as she reached up to feel the soft, unwounded flesh, her eyes widened.

  “That’s amazing,” she told him, and he couldn’t help but smile back at her.

  “What’s amazing is that you’re still here with me, unafraid,” he told her as he pushed himself up off the bed and pointed to the clothes. “Put those on, and we will get out of here.”

  As she began to move off the bed, Erik heard the loud rumbling of her stomach. He groaned in frustration as he realized that he had completely forgotten she was human.

  “You’re hungry,” he said, angry at himself as he walked over to the cupboard where the mini fridge was hidden. Finding a granola bar and a bottle of water, he turned and showed it to her, “This is all I have.”

  “I’ll take it.” She smiled at him and he brought the refreshments to her. She ripped open the packaging and devoured the bar in a few mouthfuls. She downed the bottle of water with a few big gulps. Again, Erik felt frustration at how stupid he’d been. Not only had he starved her for the past twelve hours, but he had also fed from her. The sweet taste of her blood still lingered on his tongue.

  “We’ll get you something more substantial once we’re clear of the city,” he promised her as she began to pull on the clothes he’d just taken from his neighbor.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Lucy

  As soon as she was dressed, Erik reached for her hand and pulled her close to him. “I’m sorry I brought you into all of this,” he whispered to her as he reached up and stroked her cheek. She shivered at the coldness of his hand, though it was not unpleasant.

  “If it wasn’t me, it would be someone else,” Lucy sighed, and she saw a look of hurt sweep across his gaze.

  He pulled her towards the door, before he paused and said, “No, ther
e wouldn’t be someone else. You’re the first woman I’ve cared about in more than a century. I wish that you weren’t in danger, but just know that to me, you’re important, and I am going to do everything in my power to keep you safe.”

  Lucy smiled, feeling cared about for the first time in years. She felt warmth, among her current mixed emotions of anxiety, panic, and passion.

  “We need to go now,” he explained as he reached for the door and pulled it open. Fear gripped Lucy as he froze on the spot.

  “Going somewhere?” the cold voice came from the hallway, and she instantly knew the owner. Her blood ran cold as Erik stepped backwards, forcing her back in turn. The sound of footsteps coming closer alerted Lucy that Stephen had entered the room. The door slammed behind him as Erik pushed her back behind him, shielding her from the other vampire.

  “Well, brother, you’ve had your time.” Stephen’s voice was filled with laughter. “I’m here for what’s owed me.”

  Lucy felt confusion cloud her mind as one word stuck out from his sentence. “Brother?” she asked, and she felt Erik tense against her, his whole back going rock hard at the word.

  “Oh my,” Stephen sounded as though he was having way more fun than he ever anticipated. “Didn’t you give her your life story? Didn’t you tell her how you killed your brother’s future wife?”

  Lucy felt her stomach churn at the words. Her heart sank as she pulled away from Erik. “What’s he talking about?” she asked.

  “Oh Erik,” Stephen sighed and shook his head. He looked at Lucy and she saw the coldness in his eye.

  “Hasn’t he told you about our connection?”

  “Whether we are brothers or not has nothing to do with the fact you want to kill her!” Erik snapped at the other man. Erik reached out for Lucy’s hand again, and said, “Don’t listen to him. He’s trying to twist the story.”